Have you seen Star Trek yet? The answer from me would be a big YES. In fact, I’ve seen it twice. Let me give it a one-sentence review for those of you considering it? It’s awesome, it’s fantastic, it’s incredible. Go see it — now (how’s that for a bite-sized review?).

One of the things that’s always distinguished Star Trek, since the William Shatner original series days, is the gadgets. The futuristic feel is significantly enhanced by the phasers, tricorders, scanners, etc. And given the renewed popularity that the movie has brought, it’s natural that those gadgets would be reproduced and for sale. Over the next week or so, I’ll be giving you a taste of some of the best gadgets.

We’ll start with an original series Communicator. This one features sound effects and clips from the series, and a pop-open design. The company says these are a limited edition item (unfortunately, it also says they’re currently out of stock. Since that’s likely due to the interest generated by the movie, be patient for a little bit and they’ll be available again.)

Check back soon for more Star Trek gadgets. And go see the movie!

Now this is weird. Siliconera.com is reporting that Sony is working on a way to hook up a remote-control car to the PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld game console, possibly for a driving game that will use real-world obstacles.

According to the Website, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has applied for a patent that would use the PSP as an interface that would control the car. Mounted on top of the car is a camera that will beam the video back to the PSP (still with me?) Since you will see what the car is seeing through the camera, you can navigate around stuff in the way.

One ominous note the Siliconera reports from the patent is that “a user may control the car … so as to spy on their friends… then upload the stored video images to a website.” While it sounds fun for a game, it’s not hard to image nasty and even, possibly, illegal uses for this device as well.

There was no word on when this type of system will be available. Given that it’s still in the patent stage, it could be awhile before it hits the streets.

In about 90 minutes as I write this, the next generation Nintendo gaming console goes on sale.

Starting Sunday, April 5, Nintendo unveils the DSi, the successor to the incredibly successful DS Lite (shown at right), which was itself the successor to the console that started it all, the DS.

The Nintendo DS line is the most successful handheld gaming console of all time, way ahead of the Sony Playstation Portable, which has its own loyal cadre of fans, including my son. The DS lacked some features, however, that the newest version claims to have updated.

Some of the improvements include:

• Two cameras: one on the outside body, and one that points at the user when the console is opened
• Slots for storage cards
• A Web browser
• An iPhone-style online shop from which to download games. That, of course, is why the Web browser comes in handy
• The ability to play audio and video (although the audio is AAC only, meaning it doesn’t play iTunes-compatible songs)

Overall, it’s an impressive list of enhancements to an already-strong gaming system.  Nintendo says the DSi will initially come in two colors, blue and black, and carry a list price of $169.99.

Is the console worthy of your money? Not everyone thinks the upgrades are earth-shattering, but it does answer a long list of “gotta-haves” from users. If you don’t have any game system right now, it’s worth trying side-by-side with a PSP and deciding after that type of comparison.

When I saw the movie Wall-E, I knew I’d just seen another Pixar masterpiece. Pixar, maker of hit after animated hit, including Toy Story and Toy Story 2; Finding Nemo; Monsters Inc.; and my favorite animated movie of all-time, The Incredibles, is great because they realize it’s all about story, not great animation (although the animation is great).

Wall-E has been out on DVD for a few months now (of course, I got it immediately), but if you’re a serious fan (or your kid), you can get your own Wall-E.  The U Command Wall-E is a remote controlled robot made by Thinkway Toys. It has more than 1,000 combinations of motions, voices, and actions it can do. The eyes light up, it uses the original movie voice and even has sound effects.

Those of you with children are lucky; you can (and should) say you bought it for little Mikey or Ann. You see, if it’s for them, your spouse will probably go for it. Then, of course, you’ll have to play it with them!

If you prefer Wall-E’s main squeeze, the little white vixen Eve, you can go for her instead.

And by the way Pixar, I’m still waiting for The Incredibles 2. See, it starts with the Underminer taking an orphan hostage and back to his underworld lair…

Batman is flying through the house, trying to “rescue” the kitten, who just wants to escape under a bed — or anyplace out of range of his grabby little bat gloves. I think it’s time for this six-year-old to get into his bath, without a mask on. We must be close to Halloween, because bags of candy are getting stashed in hidden storage places, and suddenly, orange is the preferred color. That, plus the usual play attire — a naked body — prefers to be dressed up like, well, Batman.

So in light of the coming month, here are a few ghoulish gadgets that might help make this the spookiest October 31st of your adult life…

This six-foot witch cackles a spell and swivels her hips like she’s got something truly nasty cooking.

Here’s a ghost with flashing eye sockets, skeletal hands, and a nylon cloak that will float in the breezes outside your front door.

Now, I’m not much into inflatables, like giant Santa train globes, because I think they tend to look cheesy. Plus, they really suck up the power at a time when that’s not what we should be doing. But not everybody feels that way, so here’s a rather intimidating object you might like to use in decorating your front yard (or dining room table, if it’s large enough!) — an eight-foot red and black inflatable spider. Like the ghost, this creepy critter’s eyes flash. But somehow, when you’re talking eight feet worth of spider, flashing eyeballs is really just icing on the cake, no?

And finally, a six-foot realistic collapsible coffin. (Vampire not included.)

This one may be of special interest particularly for those of you with six-year-olds of your own: “Son, if you don’t get into that bath right now, I’m going to have to bring out the you-know-what and put you-know-who inside of it!” And after all, isn’t that what the major holidays of the coming three months are about — keeping the kids in line?

Many years ago, I had a friend visit from Santa Barbara, and she’d changed since we’d last seen each other. The major focus of her interest at the time was colonic enemas and how cleansing they were. Yuck, right? I mean, how much talking can you do about that subject over glasses of wine before the conversation kind of closes down?

That friend, whom I haven’t seen nor heard from since, came to mind when I caught wind (no pun!) of another similar movement (another non-pun!), this one involving foot spas that promise to “cleanse” your body of toxins. You soak your feet while this device plows ions into the water, and voila! During the process, the water changes color, signifying that the bad stuff is leaving your body, to get thrown out with the bath water.

For $190, the Dual Ionic Ion Detox Aqua Foot Spa Chi Cleanse Machine provides you with the capability to detoxify with the one you love (After all, I couldn’t imagine going into detox with somebody you didn’t love…) and says it performs “internal cleansing with full body purge, [enhancing the] immune system.” Plus, it “inactivates viruses, bacteria, yeast or fungus” and provides “relief of joint pains.” According to the description, you will enjoy “increased energy and reduced stress.”

Best of all, it includes a built-in MP3 player, so you can listen to music while getting healthier (or at least a little cleaner).

As the experts in these matters point out, there’s one born every minute (and many of those end up in Santa Barbara). Personally, if I wanted to see liquid change color to prove that the science is working right, I’d go for a Scientific Explorer’s Tasty Science Chemistry in the Kitchen Kit. After all, I’d save about $170, plus I’d get the chance to make fizzing grape flavor-ade.

Here’s a cool gift idea: a waterproof action camera from Oregon Scientific. The ATC2K is a hands-free digital camera that attaches to your helmet or handlebars and lets you capture video and audio clips of your recreational activities. Think snowboarding, mountain biking, even inner-tubing.

The captured footage can be replayed on a television or you can edit it on a PC and either share the action with friends through an Internet connection or copy it back to the camera.

Even with two AA batteries (not included), it only weighs half a pound, which means your headgear won’t be shuddering back and forth like a bobblehead. Video is delivered in 640 X 480 VGA at 30 frames per second, and the output can be edited with most video editing software. The 32 megabytes of on-board memory is expandable to 2 gigabytes with the built-in SD card slot (also not included, even though the photo shows otherwise).

And you don’t have to worry about wipeouts. The ATC2K is shock resistant and waterproof up to 10 feet for extreme conditions. Play hard and prove it to your friends!

Took my first camping trip of the summer, and I have to say, it astonishes me to discover how presumably respectable and mature adults will spend their time in the great outdoors. That’s right. I’m talking about war. As in water war. As in fought with the gnarliest water gun you can get your hands on. I mean, some of these weapons surely came out of ultra-secret Department of Defense labs, intended to reduce their victims to quivering masses of Michelob Light-seeking deserters, ready to turn on teammates with merely a whisper of the words, “Ha! Gotchya!!”

Take the Waterball 100 Water Gun. Thirteen bucks will buy you a launcher built to shoot 40 balls of water a minute from a range of six to 20 feet. As the seller proclaims, “With that kind of firepower, there’s little chance anyone within the range of these pool toys will stay dry!” Or, I might add, that you’ll ever be invited back to that particular pool party.

Here’s the Double Barrel Water Gun, that, because it can shoot up to 50 feet, is “perfect for a sneak attack.”

Finally, I present the Stream Machine Water Gun. This one is two feet long, holds up to 16 ounces of water and fires up to 70 feet. Plus, it’s easy to reload. Just put the barrel into water and pull back.

All I can say is, a person’s gotta do what a person’s gotta do. Ha! Gotchya!!

If my dad were still around, here’s what I’d try to pick up for him for Sunday: a gas-powered party blender. This in spite of the fact that he was a Budweiser guy. Face it, this gadget is cool! He’d have found a use for it!

Picture this. It’s Father’s Day. Hot afternoon out on the deck. Your dad grabs the ingredients for the Hussong’s Cantina margarita recipe: tequila, Mexican Controy or Cointreau, fresh-squeezed lime juice and ice. He dumps in equal amounts of tequila, Controy and lime juice, tops up the container with ice, and cranks the engine. Hold onto those handlebars to rev up the action. Then pour into frosty, salted glasses and pass around. He’ll be the most popular guy on the block — invited to untold numbers of outdoor BBQs!

The most powerful edition has a 4-stroke engine. But if your dad is new to drinking, you might want a 2-stroke starter edition.

And gas prices be damned! The guy gets recognition only one day a year!